Is there really any differrence?

[racer_d]

My recollections are regarding the 986 are:

1) All US Boxsters were produced in Finland. Porsche kept the "Stuttgart" produced ones for the home market, and perhaps for some euro countries where there was more "stigma" about where a Porsche was made (they learned from the 914 )

2) The 5spd box is an Audi design, built by AISIN (japanese)

3) The 6pd box is a Getrag built box (in Germany)

4) All MOTORS were built/assembled in Germany and shipped to the factories for final assembly into the cars.

For the 987/997 series (really, any new porsche coming forward) will have components (sub components) built wherever the quality and price points can be achieved.. Eastern Europe, Japan, Germany, the US it doesn't matter. Weideking has made Porsche cars profitable by cutting through the "germaness" of the car, but still has protected and improved the Brand: Porsche.